Rear Tires

[Matt T.]

Anybody have any experience with a Metzler Z6 Roadtec Radial on the rear of an R1150R??? Is there another tire you like better?

[joejeweler]

The Metzler Z6 Roadtec 170/60ZR17 is what replaced the original Metzler 2004 era tire on my bike on Nov 3rd. I've put a about 300 miles on it and like it. Good grip and no complaints so far,....except for price maybe. The "raw" tire was $163.95 at Max's BMW in Troy, N.Y. , PLUS $4.79 for a new valve stem and $2.29 for a weight,......AND,....$52.50 Labor to install,.........overall not a cheap job. Add in 8% sales tax and $2.50 tire disposal and beginning to appreciate the car tire stores that include everything in their new tire sales in one price!

I'm not hard on tires so i hope to double the original tire milage before doing this again!

The original had almost 7,000 miles on it and was an earlier Metzler where the tread went all the way across the tire. The new tire has a solid center and i suspect will hold up better and last a bit longer,.....leaving more rubber on the road in the most used bike position,.....upright.

Anyway,......should be OK to use for you.

[12bar1]

I am on my second set of Z6's great grip wet or dry and good mileage also.

[joejeweler]

About how many miles did you get on your first rear Z6?

I am on my second set of Z6's great grip wet or dry and good mileage also.

[yjleesvrr]

My first rear Z6 lasted well over 14k miles. I'm still on my first front Z6 at 16k miles. For sport touring, they're probably the best you can buy. The Z6s don't feel quite as "crisp" as the MEZ4s that came stock with my bike in '02, but they last considerably longer.

Highly recommended.

[Ed K]

I've gone through several sets of Z4s and Z6s and recently switched to Pilot Roads. IMHO... a much better tire for the R1150R. Better handling, and more compliant, perhaps a little less mileage... jury's still out on the last item.

[DK]

I put a set of Pirelli Diablo Stradas on mine this summer to replace the original Michelin Macadams because the front tire was starting to "cup" badly. So far I have around 8000 miles on them and they are holding up very well. I'm really pleased with them.

Dwayne

[boxermania]

My ride an 02 R1150R came with the Macadimias 100 (no longer made) and I swapped to the Pilot Roads at 8,000 miles. I have about 16K miles now and I'm very pleased with the performance and the wear of the tires.

[riceburner]

I've had both the Z6 and the Diablo Strada (they're supopsedly the same carcass and rubber, but with different tread - made in the same factory by the same people).

I prefer the Pirelli because the tread pattern means you don't tend to suddenly go down to the steel belts without warning. The Metz tread pattern leaves too much of a gap in the middle (imho).

Apart from that they're both very good tyres, I used to find the Metz warmed up a little slower - but that may be psychological - I still remember the old ME33/ME99 Lasers.... shudder

[Brooksie]

Mine came with Dunlop 207's- didnt last long, but had good performance
Then I tried Z6's and they lasted 11000 miles before the rear squared off from riding the roads in Florida. I now have Pilot Roads on (6,000 miles so far) A little noisier than the previous tires, but it looks like they will last a lot longer than the Z6's

[soldat]

boxermania,did all thr R1150R came with the Macadimias in 2002

thank you
soldat

[yjleesvrr]

No, my 2002 R1150R came with MEZ4s.

[scottybooj]

and mine came with Dun-slops.

[ranmar850]

HTF do you get 14,000 MILES out of a Z6. original Dunlop 207RR rear was totally gone at 6,400km --replacement Z6 went 9,500km before the steel showed thru(the day it was booked to be replaced) Front Dunlop was gone at 11,00km, front replacement Z6 is the noisiest front tyre I have ever heard. This is on a Rockster, not a beak-I guess we ride harder

[R4R&R]

HTF do you get 14,000 MILES out of a Z6.

I want to know too!

Anyway, my R came with Dunlops and since then I've used Metzeler, Avon, and Pirelli. So far I like the Metzelers best but are still on the Pirelli's, so my opinion hasn't been made (until they come off). They all had decent traction, but I also look at mileage from the tires. I did notice the Avons would slip a little when pushed (they never completely lost traction, but at least let me know when they were getting close) and I wasn't thrilled with the mileage so I doubt I'll use them again. So far I like the Pirelli's.

[pneuby]

I've had both the Z6 and the Diablo Strada (they're supopsedly the same carcass and rubber, but with different tread - made in the same factory by the same people).

Is that true? Not meaning to doubt you, but I'd just like some confirmation before I repeat it to someone else.

The Metz tread pattern leaves too much of a gap in the middle (imho).

That's the only thing I wondered about from the start with those tires. I had one customer tell me his rear looked fine prior to the start of a ride, during his pre-check. The next morning, he was shocked to find cord showing through. There's just no way to be sure with that rear.

I bought my bike with 19K on the Z6's. The rear was getting squared, and had 9K on it at that point. The front was much better, with 10K on it. The the prior owner ran them at owner's manual spec, which is 36psi-front, and 38-rear(IIRC). I immediately went to 42/44 due to my size, and carrying a load daily. I soon got a flat in the rear, which was replaced with a new one. That was a noticeable change for the better in the handling!

At 24K+, the front was now on the edge of being shot, but it had gone 16K! I had posted about replacement tireds and, and the input left me wanting to try the Conti Road Attacks.

WHOA! IF I get half the mileage as the Metzler's, I'll stick with them. The steering feels as though it needs less input to corner, and I love that tread pattern. There will be NO ambiguity about tread wear. The biggie for me is that I can't feel the tar-snakes, nor the asphalt grooves in the freeway. I'm not talking about those where they've 'raked' the entire lane (rain-grooves?), but where a re-surfacing meets-up with the older pavement, usually near an edge of the lane where we motorcyclists tend to ride. The Z6's seemed to almost gravitate toward those grooves, and I'd feel it instantly when I road across one. I know there's no harm done, but I still found it disconcerting.

NOW that the the new Attacks are 'scrubbed-in', I'm going to find some sandy corners and see if I get any slip.

[johno]

I had Bridgestone 020 on my R, 6,000ks. Good tyre, but no life.
Now on Michelin Pilot Roads, and looking good so far.
Have had Metzeler Z4 on previous Beemers, and no better than 7,500ks.
I know a bloke with a RT, and he swears by the Z6.

[wncbmw]

I have had Z4s and Z6s and would put the Z6 on again. Good tire, wet or dry but like Riceburner, I am running the Pirelli Stradas now (due their by one get one free a while back) and also heard they are similar to the Z6 in compound and manufacture. The Stradas are good too, and do give a little more warning on tread wear.

Everything I have used, including one set of Avons, got between 6,000 and 7,000 miles. The Avons got squirrely before their time was up however! I could not get 15,000 out of a tire in my dreams!

[ranmar850]

There have been a lot of queries the last couple of years about how to tell when the no-centre-tread Z6 is worn-someone posted a link on another board-it's quite simple. Look at your sidewall-you will see the letters "TWI" Look inboard this mark at the tread, right up towards the centre end, and you will see a wear bar crossing the tread, just like on a conventional centre tread. This is your Tyre Wear Indicator Believe it.

[Acpantera]

I have over 6k miles on Conti road attacks and I should get at least another 2k out of the rear. I like them alot, they are quieter that the mich macs and the pilots and seem to grip and wear just as well. Got them for $220 from sw moto...shipped.